A Good Reason NOT to read foreign bike blogs...

I was reading People Powered Blog and was having a discussion with Nico about a bike he had posted on his blog People Powered had picked up on the bikes and had them on his blog of the day. I got to translating Nico's blog (using Google Translator) and ran across where he had taken a vacation in The Netherlands Found the Gazelle website with the tandem on it...now I want one!

We have a Raleigh Companion tandem that sees a bit of use, but I think the Gazelle would be much nicer and probably get ridden even more than the Raleigh does. So now the fun begins! Getting the money together and figuring out how to get a bike like that to the states.

BTW the Raleigh does have fenders and a rack on it, and it getting a center kickstand shortly.

Aaron

Almost There!

From Redline R530

My Dutch inspired bicycle is almost done! I got my Basil Karvan II panniers installed, along with a Esge double legged kickstand. Thanks to Portlandize and Rat Trap Press for their input.

Just a few more goodies and I will declare the bike done. I want a different set of pedals the touring pedals from Velo-Orange look like what I want, then most likely a set of Power Grips. Still toying with the idea of getting a different tail light that is generator powered with the stand light, current tail light and PB Super Flash are doing just fine so I may pass on that for the time being. I am also toying with the idea of a set of cork hand grips, but that is more of an aesthetics thing.

Any suggestions are welcomed!

Aaron

Learn a New Language?

Buy a bicycle that isn't sold in the US and have to translate a German website.

Bought this bike off the used bike rack at my LBS . Someone apparently had brought it from Germany and traded it in on a new bike. It is a Staiger Florida. I find it interesting that Staiger would choose to name it's entire line of bikes using names from North America...undoubtedly one of the least cycle transportation oriented countries in the world.

The Florida was from their Trekking line, and comes well equipped, with fenders, generator hub, B&M lights, chain guard and bell (typical in the countries it is sold in, but not in the US). I bought it with the original intent of stripping the components for use on a different bike, but got to riding it around and decided to keep if for a beater/grocery getter bike.

The only items I have added to it have been: the Wald folding rear baskets and the Euro style Wald front basket I also swapped out the suspension seat post for a slightly longer non suspension one. The bike came with a plastic/lexan chain guard, but it broke at the mounting points and has not be repaired/replaced yet.

This bike, with it's 27 speed Shimano drive train, shies away from my normal IGH bikes but has been well worth the $175 that I paid for it. As best I can determine it is a 2002-3 model, and apparently sold originally for ~$650usd

Aaron